Bittersweet

Louis and Liam show off their signs before the game...

Just like old times...Liam sits on the bench with Louis' team as the unofficial second assistant coach...

You'll notice Flat Taylor in this photo -- Paul's cousin Pat's grandaughter has a Flat Stanley project -- we're guessing she's the only one who attended a Canadian hockey game...

Genevieve and Danielle at the top of the Olympic tower overlooking the city...


Like no time passed...

Having good friends come to visit is bittersweet. It's so much fun when they are arrive, yet so sad when they leave. We had a great time when the Kirstein family from Naperville decided to spend Spring Break in the Great White North, while others went south to warm up. It was as if six months had not passed since we saw them. Louis and Liam immediately began shooting hoops outside, Danielle and Genevieve had their teenage discussions which included lots of giggling, Kish and Jackie opened a bottle of wine (or two, or three, let's say a lot) and Paul and Mark talked about the White Sox, Blackhawks, politics (with humor), solved the economic crisis and stimulted the Canadian economy by consuming a lot of Molson.

Having our first out of town guests since Dan Pisani was here in December gave us the chance to be tourists again. It was fun to learn more about Montreal. It's especially nice since we can feel the end of winter, although, we're not putting away our winter boots just yet.

The real bittersweetness was when the boys went to the Blackhawks/Montreal Canadiens game. Mark says everyone should experience an NHL game in Canada. While it's not necessarily more rambunctious than a U.S. hockey game -- he pointed out that Canadians are extremely serious about their hockey and a stranger will gladly provide a brief history of hockey when asked. And he mentioned that there's no doubt the fans in Canada REALLY understand their hockey and they are very much into the game. The game was bittersweet because the Blackhawks lost by three. While the Pisani family is of course cheering for the Blackhawks and proudly display the flag through the winter, at any other game at the Bell Centre we would be cheering for the Canadians. Even Liam was cheering for the Canadiens by the end of the game anyway. It's hard not too. Most Canadien fans truly like the Blackhawks -- after all they are part of the original teams. We've been told by several service people who have come to our house for a repair or delievery, that as long as it's not a Toronto or Boston flag, we're okay. We still think of it as Sweet Home Chicago.

Thanks Kirstein family for spending your vacation at our Sweet Home Montreal...it's was just as much of a vacation for us!